PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raf Camora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Camora kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Eskimo Brothers-Joe Lajoie. Santa Cruz is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 50 cent P.I.M.P. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Camora
vs
Santa Cruz

179 cm
27
169 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

180 cm
37
170 lbs
30 - 26 - 2

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Raf Camora!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 26 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Santa Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Camora tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Santa Cruz has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Camora is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Camora throws a head kick that misses.
Santa Cruz swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Camora.
Camora goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Santa Cruz scores with a crisp jab that stopped Camora in his tracks.
Camora cracks a nice hook into Santa Cruz's ribs.
Santa Cruz scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Camora rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Santa Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Santa Cruz throws out a counter right but Camora avoids it with no problem.
Santa Cruz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Camora has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A jab lands there for Santa Cruz.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Camora swings widly with a right hand

and Santa Cruz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Santa Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Santa Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Santa Cruz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Camora wants to sweep but no luck.
Santa Cruz postures up in Camora's guard and throws a big left but Camora blocks it.
Camora has his hands on Santa Cruz's head, controlling the position.
Santa Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Santa Cruz is in close to Camora's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Camora trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Santa Cruz is pushing down on Camora's leg trying to pass to half guard. Camora is fighting to maintain full guard but Santa Cruz has managed to sneak the leg through.
Camora is staying active underneath Santa Cruz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Camora wants to sweep but Santa Cruz has passed to side control!
You can see the frustration on Camora's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz throws an elbow but Camora slips to the side and avoids it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Camora tries to buck Santa Cruz off but Santa Cruz is having none of it.
Camora's coaches at Prestige MMA Acadamy have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Camora is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Camora wants to control but Santa Cruz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Camora holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Santa Cruz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Santa Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Camora defending well though.
Camora blocking the ground and pound attempt from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Camora keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Camora is looking for a sweep. Santa Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Camora fakes the leg kick and cracks Santa Cruz in the body.
Jab from Santa Cruz.
Camora throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Santa Cruz lands with a straight right. Camora didn't see that one coming.
Camora throws a sloppy head kick and Santa Cruz moves out of range easily.
Jab from Santa Cruz.
Camora takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Santa Cruz, right into the meat.
Santa Cruz is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Camora had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Camora misses with a shot to the body
and Santa Cruz counters with a left to the body.
Santa Cruz thuds his right hand into Camora's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santa Cruz darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Santa Cruz works Camora's body with a nice hook.
Camora swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Santa Cruz.
Nice uppercut there from Santa Cruz.
Nice straight punches there by Santa Cruz. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Camora throws a head kick but Santa Cruz moves out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Santa Cruz as he connects with a hook.
Camora tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Camora shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Camora is rocked!

It looks like Raf Camora has been cut.
Camora ducks right into an uppercut from Santa Cruz.
Oh Camora is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Camora drops his hands momentarily. Santa Cruz doesn't need a second invitation, landing a shot to the temple. Camora staggers and falls to the mat and the ref dives in to save him from any more punishment. Camora doesn't seem happy with the stoppage but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Rafael Santa Cruz!
Our winner, Rafael Santa Cruz, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.